Garbage Time is Your Time

​When I was in 10th Grade I took the city bus home every day after school. I had been taking the city bus home since 7th Grade (1993), and I wouldn't get a car until April of my 11th grade year. By 10th grade, going home from Simi Valley High School, I had developed a pretty basic routine. I would get off the bus and walk about a half a mile through the outdoor Sycamore Plaza on Cochran St. listening to my walk-man (Hootie and the Blowfish or Creedence Clearwater Revival around then) and maybe get an iced blended flavored coffee at Dr. Conkey's Candy and Coffee Shoppe. I would walk down the busiest street where there were no stray dogs, and within an hour I was usually home, ready to do homework or chores. It was a simpler time. Then it all changed on one fateful day in May of 1997 when I walked past Mann Movie Theaters (for the millionth time) and saw the marquee playing the day's films.

Normally, I would take note and plan my movie going for the weekend. But I realized there was a 3:30PM screening of Volcano with Tommy Lee Jones starting in a few minutes. And I realized I had $5 and the free time to see it. I remember asking the ticket taker employee if I was "allowed" to buy tickets. He said, "It's PG-13, I'm sure you can handle it." So I bought a ticket and went and watched on of the great mediocre films of the decade.   

Thus beginning a new tradition of seeing films during the "garbage time" of the day, and creating what would become a borderline addiction, turning me into the film connoisseur I am today. You see, I never thought I could see movies except on the weekends. Remember, in the 1990's there were no Thursday preview nights, with a rare midnight screening for exceptionally big blockbusters. But what I learned on that fateful Wednesday was that I can see movies during the dead hours of TV talk shows and news programming, allowing me the ability to now see everything I desired, instead of trying to work out my weekend schedule. This applied to movie rentals as well. I was now able to watch whatever I wanted between the hours of 3PM and 6PM, and I didn't have to miss dinner or primetime TV. It was literally life altering without altering my life literally. 

The reason I write that little story is because I want you to find the 3PM Volcano in your life. Where's the "garbage time" in your life where you can write a little, perform a little, or network a little? I know we are all busy, but there are times in the day where you can accomplish so much in the nooks and crannies of a schedule you probably never thought about. Here are literally three "garbage times" you can use to be more productive without extending yourself any more than you already are. 

What is Garbage Time? 
"Garbage time" is a sports term when players are put into the game after the result has been determined. When a team is losing or winning by an insurmountable margin they will put in rookies or veterans to get their minutes they would not normally get when the outcome is still unknown and undetermined. In regular life, garbage time is the hours when you are not needed by a family member, boss, or when you are occupied in a way others can't really rely on you. 

Driving is Catch Up Time with Friends, Family, and Business 
My favorite time to call people is while I'm driving. The ultimate "garbage time." If you find you are losing time at home because you're catching up on the phone with family and friends, just switch that time to the car drive home or to the show. The beauty of it is you put a stop watch on the conversation and have an easy out as well once you arrive at your destination. Stop picking up the phone during productive hours, and call people back when you're driving. At this point, everyone is one their phones while commuting. Might as well use the time double productively. 
If you are savvy enough, you can even use driving time to listen to voice messages, catch up on podcasts, and even listen to books. I understand sometimes piece and quiet is needed too, but if you find yourself feeling pulled in too many directions, use driving time as "garbage time" to get caught up with people.  

Downtime at Work is Up Time For Comedy 
There was a time in my life I made almost 10 flyers a month for comedy shows I was on or producing. The idea of working 8-9 hours a day plus trying to develop a comedy career is sometimes too hard to manage. But if you utilize downtime at work you'll find your little tasks decreasing before you clock out. I would take a flyer template and swap out names and pictures while sipping on a cup of coffee at my desk every couple hours. It was a quick mental break without shutting down. In fact, I found I was more productive because my brain was still running.  

Use ten minute breaks to update your website from your phone or send a few emails or DM's to bookers. Go to the bathroom and write a few jokes or set ups. Waiting in the conference room for your boss? Now is the time to upload that Instagram Reel. Here's the thing - you shouldn't be stealing the company's pay or time, but your brain needs the mental breaks. Spending those breaks scrolling Facebook or Tik Tok isn't as productive as posting on those websites to build your brand. There are 24 hours in a day. Some are more productive than others. So turn your less productive time into your most beneficial time. 

Use Garbage Time to Write at Starbucks or Outside Places 
If you have a free afternoon, and you find yourself not able to be productive at home, then use an outside place when they're not busy to write or upload content. I've written most of my articles between 5pm and 7pm at a Starbucks when it's dead. I get a lot of work done during the two hours I would normally not be doing much at all. I've found that by being out of my house, in a distraction free environment, at a time I'd usually be low key relaxing, I turned garbage time into my time. 

While Starbucks and Coffee Bean are traditional getaway spots, I've also used libraries, my car, parks, and even a booth at Denny's or late night diner. I once wrote a work report at a Hooters in Burbank. Though I wouldn't recommend that to anyone now, as that was clearly not a distraction free environment. My point, is that if you get into a place where you can focus during garbage time, you'll get so much more done that week than planned. 

Final Thoughts
There are only so many hours in a day, and if you try to break it down to 8 hours sleep, 8 hours work, and 8 hours for you, you'll miscalculate to the point of feeling depressed. In reality, work is 10-11 hours when you consider commuting, getting ready, lunch breaks, and overtime. Sleep varies. And so does relaxation time. We aren't machines. Plus you have relationships, time on stage, and running errands and shopping. Heck, if you go to Costco, there's your whole Sunday afternoon. So you need to take advantage of your "garbage time." In fact, I still see 90% of movies in the hours most don't. It's how I get to see so many, which is something I truly enjoy. But then I find other times to write, perform, and work on projects. 

​Often people talk about multi-tasking, and there are people who can do that, but I'm talking about compartmentalizing. If you realize you have time at work to give yourself a "me break" - take it! Trust me, your boss doesn't care. They aren't even paying attention. Most bosses spend their day doing very little to begin with, and they're afraid you'll throw it back in their face you get caught. But they don't care about your future. In fact, they hope you DON'T have a future, because that might inspire you to leave. So do you job, drive with caution, stay connected with friends and family, but don't be afraid to still find time for you within the garbage time of life.